Czech Days – an annual celebration that has kept alive the heritage of the early founders of the little South Dakota community who came to Tabor from Czechoslovakia as early as 1869 – are synonymous with fun, music, entertainment, dancing, and traditional Czech foods.
This year’s celebration on June 16, 17 and 18 – the 63rd annual Czech Days in Tabor – will be kicked off by Mac’s Carnival and Attractions on the Midway and the Craft Fair in the school gym on Thursday evening. There’s a fireworks display later.
The Information Center in the Community Center is open Friday and Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Here Czech souvenirs including cook books, kolace baking video’s and DVDs, jewelry, tapes, CDs of the Tabor 1890 Band, and other items may be bought. A Kolace and roll baking demonstration will be held on both days in the Information Center. There’s a quilt display at Quilter’s Quarters.
An authentic mini Czech Pioneer Village and Museum located south of Sokol Park in Vancura Memorial Park is open to the public both days with walking tours. The adjacent Blachnik Museum is also open.
Friday’s festivities include a giant parade, free concerts and a Polka Dance-off Contest. Saturday’s fun will include a Kiddie Parade with plenty of clowns and balloons (the categories are: Dolls, Bicycle, Pet, and Miscellaneous), Kolace baking demonstrations, and a sanctioned Pedal Tractor Pull Competition with Fred’s Combo Concert in Sokol Park in the afternoon.
The Czech Polka Mass at 5pm in St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church will have the Tabor Area Czech Singers and Musicians providing Czech singing and music.
The crowning of the 2011 Czech Days Queen at Sokol Park will be followed by the Coronation Ball.
For more information about top events in South Dakota take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in South Dakota.
For more information on Tabor’s Czech Days visit www.taborczechdays.com